CREAM MAKEUP

The Best Cream Makeup

Cream makeup has a reputation for being difficult. Here's how to apply cream eyeshadow, blush, and bronzer!

The Best Cream MakeupCream makeup has a reputation for being difficult. Here's how to apply cream eyeshadow, blush, and bronzer!

It has a rep for being difficult, but cream makeup is just misunderstood. Old formulas were like greasepaint: thick and hard to use. Today's versions couldn't be prettier—or easier.

Battle of the Textures
In one corner, the powder compact you're married to. In the other, the cream you've been eyeing. Here, the two duke it out.

Effect: If you like the idea of fresh, dewy skin, creams—with their balmy texture and gentle sheen—are for you. Powders, because they're dry, impart luminosity through sparkle (so you'll look slightly shimmery). Powders are also ideal for intense looks like smoky eyes because they're easier to layer; with creams, you can use a single shade for a diffused watercolor-like finish.

Staying power: Depends on your skin type. Cream makeup usually has an oil base, so it's more likely to slide off oily skin than a powder would be, but less prone to fading if your skin is normal or dry. No matter your skin type, creams kick butt in the heat: Because they absorb into the skin—rather than sit on top of it—you can reapply sans caking or clumping. Powders are troublesome when mixed with sweat.

Color payoff: In cream form, a high-impact hue (like fuchsia blush) can be applied lightly for a subtle wash of color or more heavily for greater intensity. Pigment-packed powders are less versatile, says makeup artist Troy Surratt.

1-2-3 Glow
You don't need the skills of Van Gogh (or even a makeup artist) to color yourself beautiful. If you can finger-paint, you're halfway there!

1. Before foundation, apply primer. Try Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer ($36, smashbox.com). It locks the base onto your skin so it's less likely to come off when you top it with cream blush, says Gina Bettelli, a makeup artist for M.A.C.

2. Start small and go slowly. "Use half as much as you think you need," says Bettelli. "Creams build nicely, so you can always add a smidge more."

3. Creams that come in pots "offer the most control for how much you apply," says Bettelli. Tap the pad of your ring finger into the cream two times, then pat it onto your face in a stippling motion—no smearing or rubbing allowed. Tubes and wands can deposit too much product, which can cause shadow to crease, she adds. Her trick: Apply a ladybug-size amount to the back of your hand, then press the product onto each lid with your finger. If you're using a stick, which is the most pigmented of the bunch, rub two swipes of color directly onto your lids or cheeks, then blend with your fingers.